Walking Through Grief Together

Support and resources in the wake of the Hill Country Floods

By Meredith Turner, Director of Communications

On Friday, July 4, 2025, the Hill Country experienced a tragedy like no one could ever imagine. Flood waters swept over the low-lying lands, claiming the lives of more than 130, including Saint Michael and All Angels member Lila Bonner, age 9. The recent flooding in the Hill Country—especially at Camp Mystic—has deeply impacted our community. Many families from Saint Michael, as well as the broader Highland Park and Dallas areas, attend Mystic and other camps in Hunt, Texas.

On Sunday, July 6 at 4 p.m., Saint Michael, in partnership with Saint Michael Episcopal School, held a special prayer special prayer service to lift up all those affected, offer support, and seek God’s peace in the midst of tragedy.

“This service is meant to be that safe, calm space where we come together to be reminded of God’s presence,” said the Rev. Dr. Christopher D. Girata in his opening remarks. More than 600 people gathered for the service, where clergy read aloud over 250 names submitted by parishioners and community members—honoring those who lost their lives, those still unaccounted for, and the families devastated by the natural disaster.

As a community of faith, Saint Michael and All Angels is committed to walking alongside those who are grieving by offering support and resources during this difficult time. We invite you to join us for any and all of these offerings.

May God bless you with a restless discomfort about easy answers, half-truths, and superficial relationships so that you may seek truth boldly and live deep within your heart.

May God bless you with holy anger at injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people so that you may tirelessly work for justice, freedom, and peace among all people.

May God bless you with the gift of tears to shed with those who suffer from pain, from rejection, from starvation, or the loss of all that they cherish so that you may reach out your hand in comfort to them and transform their pain into joy.

May God bless you with enough foolishness to believe that you really can make a difference in this world, so that you are able, with God's grace, to do what others claim cannot be done.

And the blessing of God, the supreme majesty and our creator Jesus Christ, the incarnate Word, who is our brother and our Savior, and the Holy Spirit, our advocate and guide, be with you and remain with you this day and forever more. Amen.

**This article was written by Meredith Turner, Director of Communications, and was featured in the 2025 Fall Archangel.